My project/build

[kuruptR]

shinhed, he just posted in the post above yours: hes using black leather.

[SinisterSntra91]

Originally Posted by shinhed

You do know they make textured plastic paint?
Looks more "factory" than truck bed liner.

In my experience the textured plastic paint isnt as durable as the truck bed liner stuff.

[GSXRJJordan]

Great lookin 'glass dash! When you were fitting everything in there (dash support/steering column) how did you hold the "instrument panel molding" where you wanted it to go? Did you fab up some brackets real fast or something?

[dangermouse73]

Rep this dude...sick build!

[gregfarz78]

wow man that looks great for your first time fiberglassing, can't wait to see the finished product

[SinisterSntra91]

Originally Posted by GSXRJJordan

Great lookin 'glass dash! When you were fitting everything in there (dash support/steering column) how did you hold the "instrument panel molding" where you wanted it to go? Did you fab up some brackets real fast or something?

Well I thought I could super glue it down enough to keep it in place, yeah that didnt work out well for me. So I ran screws down though the places where it overlapped to hold it in place till I got it home to work on it, then it was gorilla glue and fiberglass ftw!

[shift_SRDETuser]

+1 this will be a whole new thing -- what you should call it is a 350SX or what... nice work

[JDM671]

YOU ARE CRAZY!!!! +1

[burnsauto]

Originally Posted by SinisterSntra91

In my experience the textured plastic paint isnt as durable as the truck bed liner stuff.

that and the only good looking textured paint is from SEM and is around 20 bucks a can.

[SinisterSntra91]

Originally Posted by shift_SRDETuser

+1 this will be a whole new thing -- what you should call it is a 350SX or what... nice work

Na just plain Silvia but with the newer S15 badges.

Originally Posted by JDM671

YOU ARE CRAZY!!!! +1

lol thanks I am just getting started.

Originally Posted by burnsauto

that and the only good looking textured paint is from SEM and is around 20 bucks a can.

? Interesting, I was thinking about sanding that piece down one more time because I can see some spots I didnt get, I am a bit of a perfectionist, so Ill try that stuff instead of the truck bed liner.

[SinisterSntra91]

Well I finished sanding down the dash, went to lowes and bought a spray gun and some contact adhesive and went to town turned out a like so:





Still has some loose ends I have to glue down but you get the picture.

[burnsauto]

if you want some more info on textured interior paint, search "broadfield" he did some really nice oem looking interior panels using SEM products.

edit: http://www.zilvia.net/f/showthread.p...ght=broadfield

...and even more of an edit. : http://www.yourautotrim.com/semteco.html

[SinisterSntra91]

Originally Posted by burnsauto

if you want some more info on textured interior paint, search "broadfield" he did some really nice oem looking interior panels using SEM products.

edit: http://www.zilvia.net/f/showthread.p...ght=broadfield

...and even more of an edit. : http://www.yourautotrim.com/semteco.html

Just checked it out looks great might have to do that.

[importantone]

man you're taking DIY to the next level... everything is looking good!

[Whitebugeye]

God I love your ideas and are using them on my car

[RUTH'LESSDET]

Man this build is crazy I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Gjohnson7]

Nice!!!! Man I can't wait to see this bad boy installed.

[SinisterSntra91]

Thanks for all the compliments guys!

[SinisterSntra91]

Ok I tried the SEM coat on my 240sx/350z HVAC shroud, I am not completely happy with the results but it looks more factory textured than truck bed liner. To me it looks too flat, almost dark gray at times. So I think if I throw a matte clear over the top of it, it will give me the finish I am looking for. This way it wont be as flat as the SEM texture coating and not as shiny as the truck bed liner.



Oh and I tore the cover off my dash, my first time, I wasnt completely happy with. The second time around I will know where to start and I will have my camera handy so I can show you guys that want to know how to do it, do it.

[gregfarz78]

The texture coating is just to give it the OEM like texture its not the finish coat, you need SEM color coat to finish it off

http://www.yourautotrim.com/semdye.html

[SinisterSntra91]

Originally Posted by gregfarz78

The texture coating is just to give it the OEM like texture its not the finish coat, you need SEM color coat to finish it off

http://www.yourautotrim.com/semdye.html

thought something wasnt right....thanks for clearing that up

[Pblesh85]

your car is destined for fame if this keeps on going.

Im waiting for more pics and updates... lol

very nice, keep up the great work.

[BlueKpS13]

Amazing craftsmanship, very nice, custom build.

[JM216S14]

this build is freaking awesome!!!!!!!!

[GSXRJJordan]

Originally Posted by Pblesh85

your car is destined for fame if this keeps on going.

Im waiting for more pics and updates... lol

very nice, keep up the great work.

Couldn't have said it better myself. You've definitely motivated me to 'glass my current S14 dash when I figure out where I want my gauges.

+rep to you.

[Lordrandall]

Sick as always man. Keep it up.

[SoloSilvia]

Very Oringinal stuff man! Keep it up! Cant wait to see this car finished!

[SinisterSntra91]

Ok so the first time I did my dash I kinda rushed it which resulted in me not being happy with it. So I ripped the cover off and started over. This time I had my camera ready for those of you who wish to have some kind of direction when attempting to do this yourself.

I do warn you this is not an easy task. If you have any doubts of your personal skills do not attempt this.

The tools and material used:


Decent spray gun, weldwood contact cement, disposable paint brush, paint stick, and the material you wish to use on your dash, alot of it. Other items not pictured: air compressor, odorless mineral spirits, rags, razor blade and spray adhesive.

First thing, have PATIENCE this is in no way a easy task. TAKE YOUR TIME, if you rush you will not be pleased with the results. My dash has taken a period of three days to do.

Ok now best place to start is the curviest place on the dash as it can be the hardest to form. During this process there will be a lot of peeling up, stretching and putting back down until you get it right. The best way to tell the hard part is to stretch the material over the areas of concern and see how easily the material will take the form of the dash. I choose to start here:

Obviously none of you will have this PITA to mold unless your doing a dash like mine or a 350z dash. In this area I will use the disposable paint brush to apply the glue. The trick is to apply the glue sparingly and let it tack up a bit before trying to form the material into the target area. You want to stir up the glue really well with the paint stick:

Apply with a the brush as stated above and start forming the material, mine turned out like this:


I let that area sit over night, I used the cluter as a weight to hold it down:


That was day 1.

Day 2

I picked the cluster up off the dash to examine under it, not to bad some spots had lifted but its no big deal since those spots will never be seen. I then prepared to mold the top part of the dash which is the flatest. With the S14 dash or even the S13 dash I would recomend doing the bottom part before I do the top. Its trickier, and takes a little more time. It also allows you to have more movement with the material since the top part is free moving. Anyway back to the dash. I got out my paint gun and with the air compressor attached to it ready to go:


Poured the contact cement into it after I stirred it up once again. Peeled back the material all the way up to the point where the already glued down material starts:


Sprayed the full flat area, let it tack up and started stretching the material, making sure I got out all the wrinkles, looked like so when finished:




As you will see there are slits in the material, I did this with the razor blade to take some of the tension out of the stretched material to make it easier to work with. I used a leather alante. Its not real leather but it looks and feels like leather. Its just easier to work with and it wont dry out, shrink, or crack like leather. Its what they use in BMWs and such.

That was Day 2, and how it sits as of the moment.

Day 3

Tomorrow I will repeat the same process as day 2, just on the lower half. I will most likely let that sit over night then trim the excess material off and secure it to the back side with spray adhesive.

To clean your gun out dump some mineral spirits in the tank and shake it up, with some rags you can wipe out the inside of the tank because the cement will almost instantly turn into a gum like substance and is easily removed. I sprayed some of the mineral spirits through the gun to keep the tip from clogging. I would let the mineral spirits sit inside the canister that way it will keep the gun from clogging.

The mineral spirits is also great for clean up, and if your using a leather or a vinyl you wont have to worry about overspray on your material because it will come right off with the mineral spirits.

I hope this helps anyone thinking of tackling such a project. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask.

[energy0uth]

great job....i am merely a leaky injector lol but glad to see this when I hop on. Indeed very creative and opened my mind up to big options on my vehicles. GOTTA DO YOUR OWN THING!!!

[nxpoweredsr20]

nice build man......where in cincy r u ? i just built a s14 and it should been on the road this weekend